Course Syllabus

Course BIS 3390

Professor Valerie Minor
Term Spring 2008
Meetings

Professor's Contact Information

Office Phone 972-883-2456
Other Phone 972-883-6171
Office Location SU 1.602
Email Address vminor@utdallas.edu
Office Hours M-F 8am-5pm
Other Information

General Course Information

Pre-requisites, Co-
Other Restrictions

An elective course designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the

Course Description theoretical knowledge and skills needed to lead and motivate groups engaged in personal
or professional transitions. Includes supervised and paraprofessional experience.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

1. Students will become familiar with campus services and offices

2. Students will learn the responsibilities and expectations of the Orientation
Team Mentor position
3. Students will explore leadership and personal development
Learning Outcomes
4. Students will learn characteristics of transfer and commuter student
populations
5. Students will learn development theory on the individual as well as group level

Required Texts & StrengthsQuest Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D and Edward "Chip" Anderson, Ph.D
Materials Exploring Leadership Komives, Lucas McMahon
Suggested Texts,
Readings & Materials

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 1

 Course Syllabus

Assignments & Academic Calendar

Month Date(s) Topic, Assignment, Due Date(s), Exam Date(s)
January 8 Class expectations, office training, Google Calendar training
January 10 OTM Manuals, Professionalism
January 15 Project group assignments
January 17 History of Student Life, overview of NSP programs/services
January 22 Ethical Decision Making
January 24 Guest Speaker: Dr. Darrelene Rachavong
January 29 Student Services Panel
January 31 Student Services Panel
February 5 Residential Life
February 7 Academic Integrity
February 12 StrengthsQuest
February 14 Campus Tour--meet at Hoblitzelle Hall
February 19 Diversity
February 21 Syllabus, expectations/goals, Math Placement Exam, Career Center
February 26 Customer Service Training , professioalism, NODA wrap up
February 28 Leadership: Group Development
March 4 Leadership: The First Year Experience
March 6 Leadership: Communication, feedback
March 11 Spring Break
March 13 Spring Break
March 18 Working with parents, family members, parent skits, the art of mingling
March 20 Academic Advising Training
Small group training, commuter students, transfer and graduate students
March 25
March 27 StrengthsQuest group work
April 1 commonly used illegal drugs presentation
April 3 skits and cheers, project groups
April 8 skits and cheers, project groups
April 10 project group meeting time
April 15 walk through orientation schedule, expectations, duties, locations etc
April 17 Project group presentations
April 22 Project group presentations
April 24 summer training and event information, calendars, retreat info
Course & University Policies

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 2

 Course Syllabus

Grading (credit) Criteria

Make-up Exams No make-up exams will be given

Extra Credit

Late Work Late work will not be accepted

Special Assignments

students are allowed one absence from class. Subsequent absences will deduct
Class Attendance
from the student's final grade at 2 points per absence.

The classroom is a place for open learning and discussion, all students' ideas and
Classroom Citizenship
thoughts will be respected and listened to.

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to

state law and University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related
Field Trip Policies activities. Information regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the
Off-Campus Instruction website address
and Course Activities http://www.utdallas.edu/BusinessAffairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm. Additional
information is available from the office of the school dean. Below is a description
of any travel and/or risk-related activity associated with this course.

If you experience any problems with your UTD account you may send an email to:
Technical Support assist@utdallas.edu or call the UTD Computer Helpdesk at
972 883-2911.

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 3

 Course Syllabus

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules
and regulations for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the
responsibility of each student and each student organization to be knowledgeable
about the rules and regulations which govern student conduct and activities.
General information on student conduct and discipline is contained in the UTD
printed publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each
academic year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the

procedures of recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined
and described in the Rules and Regulations, Series 50000, Board of Regents, The
University of Texas System, and in Title V, Rules on Student Services and
Student Conduct &
Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures. Copies of these
Discipline
rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the
rules and regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391) and online at
http://www.utdallas.edu/judicialaffairs/UTDJudicialAffairs-HOPV.html

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities
of citizenship. He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well
as the Regents’ Rules, university regulations, and administrative rules. Students
are subject to discipline for violating the standards of conduct whether such
conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or criminal penalties are
also imposed for such conduct.

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic
honesty. Because the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute
integrity of the work done by the student for that degree, it is imperative that a
student demonstrate a high standard of individual honor in his or her scholastic
work.

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 4

 Course Syllabus

Scholastic Dishonesty, any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty is

subject to discipline. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are
Academic Integrity
attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for
another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the
attempt to commit such acts.
Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and
from any other source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s
policy on plagiarism (see general catalog for details). This course will use the
resources of turnitin.com, which searches the web for possible plagiarism and is
over 90% effective.

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code)
governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of
copyrighted materials, including music and software. Copying,
displaying, reproducing, or distributing copyrighted works may infringe
the copyright owner’s rights and such infringement is subject to appropriate
disciplinary action as well as criminal penalties provided by federal law. Usage of
Copyright Notice such material is only appropriate when that usage constitutes “fair use” under the
Copyright Act. As a UT Dallas student, you are required to follow the institution’s
copyright policy (Policy Memorandum 84-I.3-46). For more information about the
fair use exemption, see
http://www.utsystem.edu/ogc/intellectualproperty/copypol2.htm

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 5

 Course Syllabus

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of

communication between faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the
same time, email raises some issues concerning security and the identity of each
individual in an email exchange. The university encourages all official student
email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email address and
that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from
Email Use
a UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of
confidence in the identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the
transmitted information. UTD furnishes each student with a free email account
that is to be used in all communication with university personnel. The Department
of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method for students to have
their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any
college-level courses. These dates and times are published in that semester's
course catalog. Administration procedures must be followed. It is the student's
Withdrawal from Class responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any class. In other words, I
cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork to
ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not
to attend the class once you are enrolled

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services
and Activities, of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures .

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 6

 Course Syllabus

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or

other fulfillments of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first
to make a serious effort to resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor,
administrator, or committee with whom the grievance originates (hereafter called
“the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain primary responsibility for
assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at that level,
Student Grievance the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the
Procedures respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response
provided by the respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the
School Dean. If the grievance is not resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the
student may make a written appeal to the Dean of Graduate or Undergraduate
Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic Appeals Panel.
The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic
appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in
interpreting the rules and regulations

As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work
unavoidably missed at the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has
been completed. An incomplete grade must be resolved within eight (8) weeks
Incomplete Grades
from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the required work to
complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the
specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational

opportunities equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is
located in room 1.610 in the Student Union. Office hours are Monday and
Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30
p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 7

 Course Syllabus

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22

PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972)883-2098 (voice or TTY)
disabilityservice@utdallas.edu
Disability Services If you anticipate issues related to the format or requirements of this course,
please meet with the Coordinator of Disability Services. The Coordinator is
available to discuss ways to ensure your full participation in the course. If you
determine that formal, disability-related accommodations are necessary, it is very
important that you be registered with Disability Services to notify them of your
eligibility for reasonable accommodations. Disability Services can then plan how
best to coordinate your accommodations.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such
an accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present
to faculty members to verify that the student has a disability and needs
accommodations. Individuals requiring special accommodation should contact the
professor after class or during office hours.

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other
required activities for the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a
religion whose places of worship are exempt from property tax under Section
11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as

possible regarding the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The
student, so excused, will be allowed to take the exam or complete the assignment
within a reasonable time after the absence: a period equal to the length of the
absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the instructor and
completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence.
Religious Holy Days
A student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed
period may receive a failing grade for that exam or assignment.

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 8

 Course Syllabus

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for
the purpose of observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement
about whether the student has been given a reasonable time to complete any
missed assignments or examinations, either the student or the instructor may
request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or his or her
designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the
legislative intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by
the decision of the chief executive officer or designee.
These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor

Modified: 2/19/2008 <Professor's Name> Page 9